Holly Russel
AuthorHolly Russel has been active in the Philadelphia animal welfare community since 2008, when she began volunteering at the Pennsylvania SPCA. After six months as a volunteer, Holly moved into a full-time role as the Special Events Planner and Corporate Giving Officer for the organization. During her time there, she founded the Young Friends of the Pennsylvania SPCA and one of the PSPCA’s most popular events, the Bad Dog Ball. Holly is now part of the marketing team at Petplan pet insurance. She shares her home with two rescued pit bulls.
Coping with the Emotional Work of Volunteering
The emotional work of volunteering is complex, and volunteers can sometimes be caught off-guard by feelings of sadness, guilt or being overwhelmed. How can you swallow that lump in your throat and keep coming back for more?
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Give a Little Bit: Tips for First-Time Volunteers
While today’s oppressive gloominess may seem to suggest otherwise, springtime is set to arrive next week! With the fresh baby grass and first buds blooming typically comes a new crop of volunteers to area shelters. One of the most important roles a volunteer plays is that of a playmate; someone to initiate walks, toss a … Continue Reading
Come On Get Happy – The Case of the Mondays Edition
Feeling a bit bleary-eyed this afternoon? Those sixty minutes of sleep we skipped might make for a raging case of the Mondays, so to combat your catatonia, here’s a special Monday edition of Come On Get Happy! On Friday, PAWS reached their $2,500 fundraising goal to renovate the dog play yards at the Spay/Neuter and … Continue Reading
Come On Get Happy – The People Are Awesome Edition
Welcome to a new weekly feature on The Philly Dog! Come On Get Happy will put a smile on your face each Friday by sharing happy stories from Philadelphia’s animal world. This week, we’re taking a look at some of the unexpected, generous, amazing things people do for animals in need. In case you didn’t … Continue Reading
Playgroup Program is Helping Shelter Dogs at the PSPCA
Never was the saying, “The more the merrier,” more appropriate than in the Betty M. Bowes dog park at the Pennsylvania SPCA. There, dogs of all sizes, breeds, ages and temperaments get to run, romp and roll together – as a group. “Playgroups are beneficial because you can get a large number of dogs out … Continue Reading
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Come On Get Happy – The Bright Side of Pet Rescue News
Reality bites…sometimes. Other times, the real world can cook up some pretty heartwarming stories to spice up our spirits. Ready for a heaping plate of happiness? Read on! Earlier this week, a man came into ACCT Philly looking for his friend’s cat, and shared with staff that his friend had recently passed away. Touched that … Continue Reading
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The Best Time to Buy Pet Insurance
The most frequently cited reason for dog owners not buying pet insurance is that they never got around to doing it. But one trip to the emergency vet to the tune of hundreds (or thousands) of dollars is a terrible time to wish you had. While any time is a good time to protect your … Continue Reading
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“Puppy Love” Valentine’s Party to Benefit the PA SPCA
Remember puppy love? That feeling you got when you looked into someone’s eyes that they were just the cutest thing you’ve ever seen and you wanted them to be with you always? Get the magic back at the 23rd Street Armory on February 12th at the “Puppy Love” Valentine’s Party, benefiting the Pennsylvania SPCA. The fete’s guests of honor … Continue Reading
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ACCT Philly Hopes Tax Ruling Will Encourage More Fosters
Yesterday, a crop of news stories sprung up about the IRS ruling allowing foster parents to deduct expenses directly related to animal care from their taxes. While it is not a new allowance (the landmark case that inspired the ruling closed in 2011), the articles were shared pretty widely across social media among excited animal … Continue Reading
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Give Your Pooch a Behavior Boost with These 5 Must-Try Training Tips
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is a doggie behavior revolution, you’re in luck! We sat down with pet trainer extraordinaire Nicole Larocco of Philly Unleashed to get her top tips and fix-its for 2013. Want to boast bragging rights for the best-behaved dog on the block? Try these five simple tricks: 5. Attention, Please!!! … Continue Reading
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